Effectiveness of training on the community skills of children with intellectual disabilities

Background: Children with intellectual disabilities often have difficulties in daily tasks, requiring training to increase functional independence. This study measured the effectiveness of community skills training in a telephone task and a shopping task, and examined if community-based training was more effective than classroom-based training. Material and methods: A randomized control trial with 40 children aged 9–11years was completed. Intervention groups attended an eight-week training programme; the control group received no treatment. One intervention group practised skills in local shops. All participants were assessed before and after treatment in a shopping task and telephone task, using task analysis methodology. Results: Data showed a highly statistically significant difference between intervention and control groups in the shopping task (p=0.007); however, there was no significant difference between classroom and classroom supplemented by community-based learning in the shopping task. There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the telephone task. Conclusion: Results suggested that skills training was effective in one of the skill areas with this client group. Further research is required to determine if community-based training is more effective than classroom-based learning.